Game or puzzle



(No Model.)

W. E. GOPF.

GAME 0R PUZZLE.

No. 427,506. Patented May 6,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT EircE.-

VILLIAM E. GOEE, OF DE WITT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LESTER A. WORDEN, OF SYRAOUSE, NEV YORK.

GAME OR PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,506, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed February 3, 1890. Serial No. 339,068. (No model.)

To alll whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. GOEF, of De lVitt, county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, a citizen of the. United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games or Puzzles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of my device; Fig. 2, a transverse section taken on lineoom, Fig. l; and Eig. 3, a transverse section taken on line y y, Fig. l. l

Similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several Views.

My invention relates to that species or class of gaines or puzzles adapted to be operated through the manipulation of thev device (usually a flat rectangular or circular board) by the hand of the operator, and the tilting or jarring of which impels spherical bodies to travel over the operative surface of the game or puzzle board and around or between interposed walls or barriers incidental to the movements of the spherical bodies through the attempt of the' manipulator to so tilt the board or apparatus that said moving bodies will travel safely a predetermined route and avoiding barriers or other retarding devices disposed upon the boards face, around or against which the spherical bodies travel or rebound under varied inclinations of the board.

The object of my invention is to produce a game or puzzle of the afore-described species that is of novel and unique construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and embracing such details in-its formation and in the combination of its several parts that, in conjunction with spherical bodies coacting with the board, will afford entertainment and amusement to both adults and children, permitting of the display of skill, tact, and dexterity in the correct or successful manipulation of the device by the individual operating it. y

My invention consists, essentially, in the novel features of construction, combination, and (3o-operation of parts and adaptability hereinafter described, and which are fully specified in the claims hereto annexed. It is constructed as follows:

A is a I'lat rectangular base, (preferably of wood,) whose upper face at a point substantially midway its parallel side edges and rearwardly of the center transversely is provided with a large cavity or depression B of moderate depth, the sides of which cavity are vertical, eXcept at its forward portion., where an inclined way a converts the bottoni level of the cavity B with the upper level surface of the base A. At desired intervals and starting at a preferred distance from the edge of the circular cavity B, I cut out radial channels O, which convergently approach and enter the aforesaid cavity through exits b.

P is a thin rectangular plate or covering of fibrous or other suitable material and having a uniform level surface, which plate covers and is attached to the entire upper surface of the base A, with the exception of the central cavity B and inclined way @,whereat it is cut away to conform to the boundaries of said portions, and, additionally, where the radial channels O, extending outwardly from the cavity B toward the rectangular sides terminate, or at other preferred points over the channels I form circular apertures or inlets l through the said plate P, and thereby, with the exception of the inlet-apertures, forming a covering for the channels O and permitting of the travel of spherical bodies over the aforementioned passages.

In front of the inclined way a, and extending in a line parallel with the front edge f 0f the rectangular base, I insert (into the plate P and base A) two or more rows of vertical pins or pegs QJ, rising a short distance above the plate P, disposed alternately to each other and with suitable intervals between the pins, said rows practically extending from side to side of the board.

To the edges of the rectangular base A, I secure a continuous vertical strip that stands a suitable distance above the face or plane of the board or plate, and forming the vertical boundary wall or fonce WV. At a brief distance inwardly from the left-hand section of the boundary-wall W, I erect a vertical bar- IOO rier or wall h, disposed parallel with the ad' jacent boundary-wall, for some distan ce rearwardly, and thence extending diagonally in toward and connecting with the rear section of the boundary-wall IV, and the space be tween the barrier 7L and adjacent parallel boundary-wall forms a passageway K. The barrier h terminates forwardly a short distance from the front section of the boundarywall W, and creates thereat the opening 0, while at its diagonal portion there is an opening fr. At the left hand ot' the front section of the boundary-wall I/V, I construct a vertical barrierm, that stands out from said front section diagonally toward the barrier h, and creating an opening 7l, as shown. At the right-hand corner of the inclosure formed by the boundary-wall WV, and slightly removed from the front section of said wall, Iconstruct anl angular wall or barrier t, connected to the side section of the boundary-wall, which parts in conjunction create a carrying-pocket t.

ASreifiresent solid spherical bodies of a di-v ameter less than the channels, passages` ttc., through which they are adapted to travel, through the movement of the game or puzzle board,when taken out of the carrying-pocket t.

Preferably I form slight grooves 4through the plate P and contiguous base A, in which I insert by their lower edges the vertical bar riers, yet when desired the lower edges may be glued to the plate, as is by preference the continuous boundary-wall to the perpendicular edges of the rectangular base. Usually I utilize tough strips of fibrous material for the formation of the various walls or barrierson account of the inexpensiveness of such material.

By dotted lines n, I illustrate a slight variation in the construction ofthe channels O, in that I so vary their direction that all the vchannels at a side of the cavity B have one general exit, as at 2, into said central cavity in lieu of a number of exits.

e is a cover (represented by dotted lines) adapted to inclose my apparatus, preventing the ingress ot' dust, ttc., when not in use, and also serving to retain the spherical bodies within their carrying-pocket, and thus prevent excessive rattling and rolling of same when the device is being carried from place to place.

The various walls or barriers terminate upwardly at substantially a corresponding height.

Preferably I operate my device as follows: I-Iolding the board horizontally by the hand, the spherical solid bodies S being placed in position at the starting-point s, the task or puzzle awaiting accomplishment is to so tilt or jar the board as to impel the spherical bodies to simultaneously start and travel over the boards surface, making a complete circuit of the inclosure, and thus arriving at their starting-point from an opposite direction to that by which they started, the requisite or correct line of travel being clearly indicated by the irregular dotted line g, Fig. I, of the drawings. Should, during the attempt `to make the circuit, one or more of the spheri- `ator it is evident that one or more of the spheres S must invariably gain access to the central cavity B either through precipitation over its vertical sides, rolling down the inclined way a, or dropping through the circular apertures l into the channels C, andthence entering the central cavity by the channels exits. 1

Vhen one or more of the spherical bodies are lying in the cavity B and it is desired t0 return them to the starting-point s, the forward depressing of the board will permit of the rolling of said bodiesy along the way a and onto the boards level surface, and thus obviating all necessity of picking them out of the cavity by the employment of ones lingers.

The function of the pins or pegs p and various barriers or walls is to retard or impede the movements of the spheres S, and thus tending to increase the perplexity of the person manipulating the board.

Ioo

It is obvious that my aforedescribed procedure in the adaptation of my device for game or puzzle purposes conjointly with the employment of spherical bodies is susceptible of more or less variation or modification without a departure from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. -A gameboard or puzzle comprising a cavity of large diameter in its face, horizontal covered channels connecting therewith and which extend outwardly and terminate at their outer extremities in vertical aper- IIO tures leading to the upper level surface of the board, pins erected in front of the cavity, a continuous wall bounding the board, and suitable barriers disposed within the inclosu re created by the boundary-walls, all the said parts being arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a game-board or puzzle, in combination, a main or body portion provided with a cavity in its face, one or more horizontal covered channels leading therefrom outwardly a desired distance, one or more apertures formed in the covering of the said channel or channels, whereby connection is made with the upper plane of the board, one or more rows of vertically-disposed pins disposed apart from each other, a continuous boundary-Wall eX- tending along the boards edge, and suitable walls or barriers standing within the inclos* ure formed bythe boundary-wall, constructed substantially as described, andfor the purposes specified.

3. A game-board or puzzle consisting of a practically central cavity in its horizontal face, horizontal radiallydisposed channels extending outward from said cavity a desired distance and provided with a covering whose top surface lies flush with the general plane of the board, vertical perforations through the covering of the channels at desired points, an inclined way at an edge of the central cavity connecting the bottom level thereofl with the higher plane of the board, alternately-disposed pins standing in front of the cavity, inclined way, and adjacent perforations, a wall or barrier at one side of the central cavity and beyond the apertures connecting with the channels, a wall or barrier standing diagonally toward the aforenamed barrier and in non-contact, an angular barrier at the opposite side of the cavity and practically opposite the diagonal wall or barrier ai'orenarned,

and a continuous boundary-wall inclosing the boards surface and creating an inclosure thereon, the several parts being arranged and combined substantially as described, and for the purposes enumerated.

4. A game or puzzle consisting, essentially, of the ilat rectangular base A, cavity B in its upper face, channels C, diverging from said cavity, an. inclined way a at a side of the cavity, a rectangular plate P, covering the upper surface of the rectangular base A, with the exception of the cavity B and way c, whereat it is cut away, vertical apertures l, formed in the said plate at points directly over the covered channels, and thereby communicating therewith, one or more rows of alternately-disposed pins p, standing in front of the cavity B, way a, and adjacent apertures l, a continuous boundary-wall W, inclosing the plate P or boards operative face, an extended barrier or wall h, adjacent to a side section of the boundary-wall and standing parallel therewith part of its length, the passage-way K, formed thereby, the openings o" o in said barrier h, a short vertical barrier or wall m, eX- tending from the front section of the boundary -wall diagonally toward the barrier h and creating at its termination an opening t' between them, a combined barrier and carrying-p0cket t t', erected at the opposite side ot the boards inclosure, and spherical bodies S, adapted to travel over the boards face, all combined, arranged, and operating substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 25th day of January, 1890.

VILLIAM E. GOFF. [L. s]

lVitnesses:

WM. C. RAYMOND, FRANK E. WRIGHT. 

